CONGRATULATIONS, WOLFPACK!!! BeeJay Anya scored State’s last two baskets in amazing style!
Every NC State fan right now. #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/lHVSG4wFAk
— NCAA March Madness (@marchmadness) March 20, 2015
#packmadness pic.twitter.com/1kTtJgPYgG
— NC State Men's Bball (@PackMensBball) March 20, 2015
From a different angle with great work from the N&O:
Think about Tyler Lewis' shot that went down and came out to lose last year's game vs St. Louis. So nice to get @BAnya_Allday's to fall!!
— statefansnation (@statefansnation) March 20, 2015
State was down 14 points at halftime and then by 16 in the second half. Ironically, State squandered exactly a 16 point lead vs St. Louis in the Round of 64 of last year’s NCAA Tournament. In the last four minutes of tonight’s game, LSU went 1 of 7 from the free throw line and 0 of 12 from the floor.
It's crazy the similarities of the 2014/15 state game. Same letters, SLU-LSU. Same deficit 16 PTs. Missed free throws late. @statefansnation
— Phillip (@phillip_worrell) March 20, 2015
1. BeeJay Anya scored the gamewinner from the low post, taking a feed from Trevor Lacey and connecting on a hook shot that seemed to hang on the edge of the rim for an eternity. But when it fell it rewarded the unsung big man for a strong night. Anya finished with just four points – but they all came in the last 46 seconds, when the Wolfpack needed them most and needed his inside presence most. He also added seven rebounds, helping to keep LSU’s much more dominant inside presence at bay.
2. This was a comeback or a crash, depending on your point of view, but from the neutral bird’s eye, it looked more crash than comeback. LSU was 0 of its last 12, hitting its last field goal with 10:26 left in the game, and missed six consecutive free throws in the final three minutes. LSU stopped attacking the rim with gusto, settling for layups instead of going to the rack with authority, and that opened the door for the Wolfpack, who happily charged through it.
3. That said, credit N.C. State for staying with it. The Wolfpack trailed by 14 at the break looked out of synch offensively for much of the first half, and overwhelmed by the Tigers’ size and athleticism. But N.C. State upped the defense in the second half, limiting the Tigers to just 29 percent shooting, and systematically chipped into the lead.
4. Cat Barber, who N.C. State coach Mark Gottfried said has been the difference in the Wolfpack’s late-season surge, again played catalyst. He finished with 17 points, 11 of them in the second half.
5.. The Wolfpack will pose some problems for Villanova in the second-round game on Saturday. They’ve got more size inside and have good shooters to match the Wildcats’ offensive firepower. But N.C. State can ill afford another slow start because unlike LSU, Villanova won’t fall apart.
That is the most NC State thing I've ever seen in my life. By LSU that is. Snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. Sendekian.
— Brian Onorio (@brianonorio) March 20, 2015
State is now 4-9 on the season when trailing at halftime.
Mark Gottfried is now 4-3 in the NCAA Tournament as NC State’s Head Coach.
State advances to play the #1 seeded Villanova Wildcats on Saturday.
I thought these were really nice:
Got to watch the @PackMensBball game with @Levi_Watkins21 what a finish! No quit in that group! pic.twitter.com/BGHK3pvO27
— Nima Omidvar (@NimaOmidvar) March 20, 2015
Way to go Wolfpack!!!! Got my "Pack Fever" tie on!! Way to survive fellas! Whew! #Advance pic.twitter.com/AzfbYIoEEr
— Thurl Bailey (@bigTbailey) March 20, 2015
